Pineapple - The Power fruit

picture from http://www.seriouseats.com

Hello guys, how are you doing? Have you been eating right lately? Maybe some of you started and then stopped, and maybe some others are still moving strong. I hope you belong to the latter group. I urge you to eat right, it's for your good. Starting early will help you avoid a lot of sicknesses that come with age and if you're among the older group, you should know you need to eat right because your body slows down on fighting many sicknesses, hence you need the boost from natural healthy foods. I'd like to share with you the health benefits of the power fruit; Pineapple.

Pineapple is a sweet and juicy fruit which can be found easily at most fruit stands all year round. It is actually a combination of many berries, fused into a central stalk. It has a very distinctive look. The colors have a blend of green, yellow and orange. Usually, people believe that the brighter it looks, the more ripe it is but that is not always the case. I also heard that the easier it is to remove the crown, the more ripe it is, but this also is not always the case. When choosing pineapples, pick the ones that smell fresh and sweet. Avoid picking pineapples with soft spots and bruises. 

Some Nutrients

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Fiber
• Potassium
• Phosphorus
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Beta carotene
• Bromelain (only found in pineapples, has many medicinal properties including fighting the growth of tumor cells)

Health Benefits

• Reduces the risk of obesity
• Acts as an antioxidant - fights free radicals to prevent cell damage
• Prevents asthma
• Acts as an anti inflammatory agent
• Protects from scurvy
• Aids digestion
• Helps to strengthen bones
• Prevents high blood pressure
• Helps to cure sore throats
• Lowers risk of some cancers
• Helps clear tapeworms
• Improves fertility
• Effective solution for acne and generally helps improve skin health
• Softens and strengthens nails
• Fights arthritis 

Need more reasons why you should be eating this? Yeah, didn't think so. 

Caution

Consuming Potassium in large quantity can be detrimental to health, especially to people with Kidney problems. Also, those who suffer from gastro-esophageal reflux disease ( pregnant women and others who suffer from consuming highly acidic foods) may suffer increase in symptoms which may vary. As always, let your physician/ nutritionist aware of your diet especially if you are on medication or have a history of diseases.

Recipes

Pineapples can be taken in various forms; you can chunk it up and eat it, add in your fruit salad, juice it up, make a smoothie by adding other fruits, you can also add the juice to some meals and vegetable salads. My sister in-law simply cuts the head and digs in with a spoon. Hey, whatever rocks your boat, just eat right and live healthy.